Preview — Shiny Broken Pieces
by Sona Charaipotra

Shiny Broken Pieces

June, Bette, and Gigi have given their all to dance at Manhattan’s most elite ballet school. Now they are competing one final time for a spot at the prestigious American Ballet Company. With the stakes higher than ever, these girls have everything to lose…and no one is playing nice.

Ever since June landed the starring role in last year’s performance,May the best dancer win.

June, Bette, and Gigi have given their all to dance at Manhattan’s most elite ballet school. Now they are competing one final time for a spot at the prestigious American Ballet Company. With the stakes higher than ever, these girls have everything to lose…and no one is playing nice.

Ever since June landed the starring role in last year’s performance, she can finally see herself as a prima ballerina. Being the best means making sacrifices, though, and getting what she wants might cost June everything—including the only boy she’s ever loved.

Legacy dancer Bette is determined to clear her name after she was suspended and accused of hurting her rival, Gigi. But even if she returns, will she ever regain the spotlight she craves? Or has she tarnished the treasured family name forever?

Gigi endured a year of torment from Bette and other dancers who envied her success. It nearly ended her ballet career—and her life—and Gigi is not going to let them go unpunished. But as revenge consumes her, Gigi may be the one who pays the price.

After years of grueling auditions, torn ribbons, and broken hearts, it all comes down to this last dance. Who will make the cut? And who will lose her dream forever?...more

Community Reviews

This is my year. This is my turn. I’ll be the lead soloist. I’ll be chosen for the company. I’ll do whatever it takes.

Such a wonderful end to the dark series that gives us a glimpse into the competitive world of ballet. I cannot praise this series enough for it’s diversity. And that’s aside from the fierce, cut-throat ballerinas. The real-life issues such as eating disorders, coming out, drug abuse, racism, bullying, etc. & the engrossing drama.

This is my year. This is my turn. I’ll be the lead soloist. I’ll be chosen for the company. I’ll do whatever it takes.

Such a wonderful end to the dark series that gives us a glimpse into the competitive world of ballet. I cannot praise this series enough for it’s diversity. And that’s aside from the fierce, cut-throat ballerinas. The real-life issues such as eating disorders, coming out, drug abuse, racism, bullying, etc. & the engrossing drama.

Summer has passed since Tiny Pretty Things ended and we pick up where the next school year is beginning at the prestigious American Ballet Conservatory. After the way the first book ended, our characters are in very different places and the school itself is undergoing changes as well. You’ll have to read to get all the details - just know the faculty is determined to keep what happened last year from happening again.

I was so naive when I first got here. I didn’t realize how much people would do just to dance.

Again we alternate between the perspectives of Gigi, Bette, and June. Gigi, the black ballerina who refuses to let anyone hurt her the way they did last year. Bette, the white legacy who is determined to find out who really hurt Gigi in order to end her own suspension from the school. June, the half-korean who just wants to be a prima ballerina. The girls very much have the same goals, though there are more obstacles they must cross to get there.

It’s a bit more high-stakes in this one since the girls are Level 8 dancers now. This is the end of the road. If you don’t secure one of the coveted company slots at the end of the year, this is it.

For a moment, I feel bad for Riho. She’s too young, too small, of such harsh treatment. Then again, we all were once.

One of my favorite things about Shiny Broken Pieces as opposed to the first book is the whodunnit aspect that was added. We are with Bette as she tries to piece together who really pushed Gigi. This gave a slight mystery feel. It is also interesting as we find out who pulled each of the “pranks” last year to try and guess who pulled the biggest of them all.

I enjoyed seeing how the competition was getting to each of the girls psychologically. It is clear that what happened in the first book had a deep impact on them in their own separate ways. Whether by route of forgiveness or getting even, I loved the journeys each of the characters took.

Swan Lake is the ballet present in this one. There are lovely references throughout. The compelling writing draws you into this world and truly doesn’t let you go. It all concludes very nicely by the end.

There is also an extremely significant scene in terms of racism that I cannot get out of my head from when Gigi is being fitted for her costume. I seriously cannot applaud the authors enough for their display of diversity and the lessons between the lines.

Again I’d liken this series to Bunheads, Center Stage, or Black Swan - all for similar themes. If you love drama on the darker side of the spectrum, this is for you!!...more

This book easily becomes my favorite read of 2016 as if there’s any other competition. One of the things that set this story apart from its peers is the non-glamorization portrayal of unlikable heroines. There’s savagery. We get to see them make bad decisions, get messy. There are times you’d question their intent and sincerity. There is a rawness, but we also get to see them stiched themselves back again. We need to normalize this narrative in YA or in any sp

Shiny Broken Pieces stole my heart.

This book easily becomes my favorite read of 2016 as if there’s any other competition. One of the things that set this story apart from its peers is the non-glamorization portrayal of unlikable heroines. There’s savagery. We get to see them make bad decisions, get messy. There are times you’d question their intent and sincerity. There is a rawness, but we also get to see them stiched themselves back again. We need to normalize this narrative in YA or in any specific genre that have a docile, unrealistic expectation of women.

My favorite reading quirks are the subtle weaving of real world issues. The author managed to capture what I was looking for. The ballet world isn’t devoid of colors. They bared the biased discrimination and racism of this environment; and they didn’t erase the existence of ballerinas of colors who are thriving and defying the whiteness of their profession. It’s pretty spot on. I hope more people would read this series. The suspense and compelling writing certainly kept me up on my toes. ...more

The first book in this duology was not to my liking at all. But it left unanswered questions... I wanted to know if there was a point to certain events. I wanted to see if negative behaviours on the part of some of the male characters would be called to attention. I wanted to see if the female characters would ever develop into believable multi-layered ballerinas... I wanted to understand the reasons behind the actions of the characters from book one.

And it was all aAnd I read this why???

*sigh*

The first book in this duology was not to my liking at all. But it left unanswered questions... I wanted to know if there was a point to certain events. I wanted to see if negative behaviours on the part of some of the male characters would be called to attention. I wanted to see if the female characters would ever develop into believable multi-layered ballerinas... I wanted to understand the reasons behind the actions of the characters from book one.

And it was all a waste of my time. The special snowflake had a personality swap with her mean girl counterpart... The mean girl was now the victim.

An even badder mean girl was brought into the play and the girl always on the sidelines still remained there...

I'm so disappointed in this series.

I was expecting vibrant characters from all walks of life ethnically speaking but instead the diversity was mired in stereotypes.

I understand the idea that ballet was obsessional for these girls but it ate them alive. So much that very little humanity was left, instead it was all drama times twenty! Where was the nuance? The emotional conflict of jealousy and of fear of not fulfilling your dreams? It was lost in prank after crime after yet another prank after yet another crime... It was impossible to care about any of these characters.

Where was the realisation from some of these girls that they were victims of sexual abuse?? Why call it manipulation??? Why say "oh but I started it"??? High school age versus an adult male??? Yes... Because that child understands the consequences and isn't groomed AT ALL.... A boy that uses your secrets against you?? To take sexual advantage?? Yes...manipulation is such a safe word...

But mostly. These books suffered from being poorly written and incredibly tedious to read! When it's page after page of monotonous drama it all melts into one dramatic blob and the storyline never properly develops. There are no crescendos and nothing to draw the reader's imagination deeper into this world of cutthroat ballet.

And worst of all... The neatness of the ending. I thought that surely in such a dark and messed up environment that this book was set in that it would have influenced the outcome for each character. Left things a little more unsettled and maybe with a slight twist hanging in the air... Nope. This was tied up with pretty ballet shoe ribbons and was as dull as ever!!

After I finished reading Tiny Pretty Things I was desperately wanting to finish this duology. I adored the first book and was eagerly and highly anticipating the final book. It did not disappoint me at all!

The story pretty much picks up where the first book ended, if you was expecting a nicer version with no more bullying in this book, well don't. This time round it's as though this is had done a co4.5 Stars! This is so close to perfection for me!

Trigger warnings for Eating Disorders and Suicide

After I finished reading Tiny Pretty Things I was desperately wanting to finish this duology. I adored the first book and was eagerly and highly anticipating the final book. It did not disappoint me at all!

The story pretty much picks up where the first book ended, if you was expecting a nicer version with no more bullying in this book, well don't. This time round it's as though this is had done a complete 180 degree turn and the victims become the bullies. At times I found it quite difficult to read because of all the hurtful things that happened in this book, however it shows a really important message and that is to be who you are.

The characters this time round completely baffled me and people I previously liked. Well... I'll try and explain.

Our shining star Gigi was such a well loved character in the first book, however this time round I felt let down by her and her actions. Obviously what happened to her would change someone, but this? From such a lovely person to a complete and utter bitch. Bette number 2 anyone? Although saying this I liked her realisation and how she tried to correct things.

Firstly I loved Bette in this book! I think we see her as an actual human being with actual feelings. She has a lot to live up to being the sister of Adele who is praised time and time again. Trying to live up to that standard is obviously going to be hard. We see her fall and how she bicks herself up. It's weird for me to say but I was actually rooting for her!

I AM SO PROUD OF JUNE! I really liked her in both of these books, although the revelation early on did throw me off. It wasn't right. I need more.

Cassie is a bitch, I will leave it at that.

So what I liked?- How do I put this? At first I liked a bit of the revenge, it was good to see people come into their own, but then it got too much. So a like and dislike maybe?- Bette and Junes kind of alliance and helping each other out.- Sei-Jin and her kindness (I was thrown okay!)- Getting more of this world!

What I didn't like?- It was predictable with who did it, I always make notes and I guessed within 4 notes.- Erm, what happened to June and Eleanor?!

Overall, I really enjoyed this series. It was unlike anything I've previously read and I think that's why I enjoyed it so much. There are some really hard hitting subjects in this, and I think it deals with these issues extremely well.

These books are twisty and fun, but not sure a second book added much new to the story. Putting Cassie in the mix was a (welcome) new element, but -- and maybe it was reading these back to back -- 800+ pages total of mean girls/pranks/bullying/ballet/boy drama/descriptions of each others' perfect faces and bodies started to be a bit much. By the end I'd had enough of these characters and was happy to break out of the claustrophobic world of the American Ballet Company academy.

Read more of my reThese books are twisty and fun, but not sure a second book added much new to the story. Putting Cassie in the mix was a (welcome) new element, but -- and maybe it was reading these back to back -- 800+ pages total of mean girls/pranks/bullying/ballet/boy drama/descriptions of each others' perfect faces and bodies started to be a bit much. By the end I'd had enough of these characters and was happy to break out of the claustrophobic world of the American Ballet Company academy.

I talked my feelings out with Aali who is queen btw but still genuinely not sure how I feel about this.

For me, June was the only character worthy of having her own chapters. Everyone else was pure bitching and being cruel to each other. June was different, she did do some awful things (because let's be real who didn't in this series) but there was a lot more substance to her.

I also think that the authors desperately wanted some morally grey characters but it just didn't work. Actual rating 3.5

I talked my feelings out with Aali who is queen btw but still genuinely not sure how I feel about this.

For me, June was the only character worthy of having her own chapters. Everyone else was pure bitching and being cruel to each other. June was different, she did do some awful things (because let's be real who didn't in this series) but there was a lot more substance to her.

I also think that the authors desperately wanted some morally grey characters but it just didn't work. One second they were being awful to each other and the next they were cosying up and being 'best friends' again. Gigi and Cassie didn't make sense to me and the reasons that were given for their extreme personality changes weren't good enough

The biggest problem with this though was the half-tackling of serious issues. There is a lot of brilliant diversity in this book but I don't think the problem of racism in ballet was dealt with appropriately- there were just a couple of off hand comments made (almost exclusively by Gigi's mum) and there was never any real discussion about it. Also the horrendous student/teacher relationship/s were not discussed enough (view spoiler)[ Adele gets to the top partly by sleeping with Mr K and Bette actually went searching for that (hide spoiler)] There was just no substantial discussion of the shaming and real problems caused by this.

Also Aali pointed out to me that (view spoiler)[ when Bette comes back to school (hide spoiler)] Gigi's mum is so busy screaming at Mr K that she doesn't even ask the most important question of the whole series. (view spoiler)[ Who actually pushed Gigi in front of the taxi? (hide spoiler)]

800 pages of evil ballerinas just being horrible to each other over the course of both books is too many. And I wasn't really happy with the ending either, especially June's. ...more

I am so sad to see this duology end, but here’s the thing. This book, like its prequel, has diversity at the forefront. Not only that, it has diverse authors. The way Tiny Pretty Things and Shiny Broken Pieces have been written make me feel like these are authors who know what they’re talking about, know what issues they’ve addressed, maybe even personally gone through some of these problems. This isn’t research in these books—it’s their own life and their own hearts. And that, reader, is eI am so sad to see this duology end, but here’s the thing. This book, like its prequel, has diversity at the forefront. Not only that, it has diverse authors. The way Tiny Pretty Things and Shiny Broken Pieces have been written make me feel like these are authors who know what they’re talking about, know what issues they’ve addressed, maybe even personally gone through some of these problems. This isn’t research in these books—it’s their own life and their own hearts. And that, reader, is exactly why I’ve been pushing people to read these books.

After I’d completed reading Tiny Pretty Things, I thought I knew which characters in the story I was rooting for. Of course, in hindsight, I should have realised that life doesn’t work in blacks and whites, but that’s how this book worked out for me. More than a year later now, with Shiny Broken Pieces, the authors have redefined my stance on all characters, even making me go so far as to question if I read the first book correctly or not. This book marked a change in all the people in this story, and it marked a change in how I feel about them. A summer had passed between the events of the two books, and with all the things that had happened to and with the girls, I felt like some of them went through fundamental changes that just could be not be overlooked, notwithstanding who they used to be.

With Gigi, the change was phenomenal. This was a girl who had almost died because the dancers in her school were spiteful and jealous of her, and she realised this too late. This led to her becoming someone she wasn’t in SBP, and while it did not surprise me, it most definitely saddened me. I rooted for her quite a bit, but it just seemed like she was absolutely consumed with the goal of getting her revenge against everyone who had wronged her. The bright girl she was and her generous nature she had did shine through some of her actions but, as a reader, I was left quite breathless by most of her choices and decisions. It was a surreal experience to watch her unravel in this book, it truly was.

June, I think was the one I was truly surprised with. She wasn’t very different in this book, but she was…lighter? She had all the issues that come with being a perfectionist if its to the point of harming yourself, and all the problems that eating-disorders bring, but she was also more willing to reach out this time around. It was the last thing I expected of her, and it convinced me to start seeing her in a completely different light. I absolutely loved the changes in her, the kind of person she started to become in the last 60% of the book, and I can genuinely say that June may have gotten her happy ending after all. Bette, on the other hand, I’m still undecided about. Maybe it’s because I’m so used to seeing her as the villain that to me, its all she’s going to be. She, too, was very different this time, and very subdued, but that may also be because she was trying to clear her name in the eyes of the school. At the risk of giving away a very tiny spoiler, I’m going to say that Bette will probably never be a favourite of mine, simply because her motivation in the last book was to be THE star, and in this book it was to be proved innocent. I just don’t see myself ever liking Bette, ever.

I remember loving Eleanor in TPT, and it was so good to see her back again! She, too, is an important character in this book, and everything, including her friendship with Bette, is different this time around. Eleanor made her own choices—some bad, some worse—but she grew up, and that was good to see. All the supporting characters had depth and they made me feel and it was as beautiful an experience as book one, you guys.

READ THIS BOOK, everyone. It’s a dark, compelling story, but more than anything it talks about things that need to be talked about. It’s written with beauty that goes hand-in-hand with its content, and it will leave you a different person for having read it. No matter what you fancy—drama, romance, character development—the Tiny Pretty Things series has it. Also, the covers are going to look gorgeous on your shelves, think about that!

I was provided a free earc of this book by HarperTeen through Edelweiss in exchange of an honest review. this did not in any way, however, influence the content of this review....more

Last year I read Tiny Pretty Things and it became an instant favourite. I was patiently eagerly awaiting Shiny Broken Pieces. It did not disappoint, and I found myself immersed in the lives of the Bette, June and Gigi once again.

Spoilers ahead for Tiny Pretty Things.

Shiny Broken Pieces picks up at the beginning of the new school year. Gigi is still recovering from her accident but she is determined to prove that she still hasDisclaimer: I received a free copy via Edelweiss for review purposes.

Last year I read Tiny Pretty Things and it became an instant favourite. I was patiently eagerly awaiting Shiny Broken Pieces. It did not disappoint, and I found myself immersed in the lives of the Bette, June and Gigi once again.

Spoilers ahead for Tiny Pretty Things.

Shiny Broken Pieces picks up at the beginning of the new school year. Gigi is still recovering from her accident but she is determined to prove that she still has what it takes. And she's also not willing to let those who made her past year a living hell go unpunished. Bette is determined to clear her name after she is wrongly accused of pushing Gigi, and she attempts to right her wrongs. June, after dancing Gigi's part in the nutcracker, is finally seeing herself as a great ballerina. June, however, finds herself having to choose between dancing and the boy she loves. Competition is rife for the only two places at the American Ballet Company, and all three girls want it, and they aren't playing nice.

This series is so engrossing, so dark and filled to the brim with diversity and real-life issues. I loved the fierce competitiveness between the girls for the professional ballet spot at the American Ballet Company. I found I liked the characters a lot more in Shiny Broken Pieces because they finally sought redemption for some of the horrible things they had done in the previous book. But not just that, they all went through some fantastic character development - which was focused on more prominently in Shiny Broken Pieces than it was in Tiny Pretty Things.

It was a great ending to a great duology. If you're looking for an riveting, dramatic, fantastically written novel with some seriously good character depth and development, then I would recommend you pick up this series ASAP. ...more

This was a really good end to a really good duology! I would highly recommend!

It’s a new year at Manhattan’s most elite ballet school and the stakes are higher than ever as Gigi, Bette and June have one last chance to make there dreams come true. Who will come out on top?

Oh my God, these characters! Firstly, I loved Gigi in book 1, but I didn’t quite like her as much in this one. Gigi went through hell in Tiny Pretty Things and it’s to be expected that it would change her, however she turned iThis was a really good end to a really good duology! I would highly recommend!

It’s a new year at Manhattan’s most elite ballet school and the stakes are higher than ever as Gigi, Bette and June have one last chance to make there dreams come true. Who will come out on top?

Oh my God, these characters! Firstly, I loved Gigi in book 1, but I didn’t quite like her as much in this one. Gigi went through hell in Tiny Pretty Things and it’s to be expected that it would change her, however she turned into a proper Bette 2.0. But we saw her truly regret her actions, but it didn’t stop her actions. Seeing her get revenge against the people that wronged her really had me torn because on one hand I loved seeing Gigi stick up for herself and give the other dancers what was coming to them, on the other hand two wrongs don’t make a right.

Then we have Bette, who is determined to clear her name and have her suspension lifted. I feel like Bette had some really good character development in this book and we saw a different side to her. I felt she better understood her bad attitude and was truly trying to right her wrongs. Lastly, June just wants to be a prima ballerina, however her health disorders may be the very thing standing in her way. We see June begin to accept her eating disorders and that she needs help.

I think the main thing about this book that deserves an applause is the diversity. Throughout this book and the first we have had so many different groups of people represented. We have black ballerinas, Asian ballerinas and this book specifically had elements of racism in it. We had members of the LGBT+ group and struggling to come to terms with their sexuality. The was a character who struggled with a very serious eating disorder. Another who had a problem with pills and multiple counts of bullying.

I loved the premise of this series, it’s so original and interesting. I loved how the stakes were higher in this book and, good actions or bad, you could see how every girl genuinely wanted to be a prima ballerina. Overall this was a really good duology and I would highly recommend! ...more

This book was addictive. I think it's because I absolutely love dance. I love hearing about the techniques, the costumes, makeup just everything. And this time the school was doing Swan Lake. I've spent hours watching videos of this ballet and I've even seen it professionally done. It is so beautiful I don't have the words. It was the perfect ending piece.

We finally find out who was behind each of the horrible things in book 1 and the pranks/bullying doesn't stop inWow so happy with the ending.

This book was addictive. I think it's because I absolutely love dance. I love hearing about the techniques, the costumes, makeup just everything. And this time the school was doing Swan Lake. I've spent hours watching videos of this ballet and I've even seen it professionally done. It is so beautiful I don't have the words. It was the perfect ending piece.

We finally find out who was behind each of the horrible things in book 1 and the pranks/bullying doesn't stop in this book. Cassie is back to get Bette, and Gigi is out for revenge. It seems like this school brings out the worst in the girls. Honestly, I was so worried they were going to kill each other.

June continues to struggle with her weight and I think this was probably the thing I had the hardest time with. I know the atmosphere and all the other girls don't help, but I wanted June to be healthy so badly. Every time she threw up made me want to cry for her. Luckily, her mom refuses to give up on her and the people at the school try to help as well.

Bette I really didn't like in the first book, but I think her time away from the school helped her attitude. She came to a few stunning conclusions about her behavior and I was really proud of her to try to change her attitude. She also stopped trying to chase Alec as much. I was so thankful for that. One more "Alec belongs to me" and I think I might have hurled. My favorite development with Bette was seeing her start to really listen to Eleanor and begin repairing their friendship.

Gigi was such a tough case in this book. She was my favorite character from the first book, but she kind of turned black swan in this book. She's still an amazing dancer, but when she focused on revenge I wanted to pull out my hair. Also, I hated that she gravitated towards Cassie. I really did not like Cassie or trust her at all and she was a horrible influence for my baby Gigi.

I'm so glad I picked up this series. I really fell in love with all three girls by the end of the series and I was so happy how everything was resolved. Now I need to go watch hours of ballet and sign up for a class again. ...more

this was disappointing, and my expectations weren’t even high. wow main three girls are doing this thing called “character development” and justify all their bad deeds on jealousy!!! (good excuse for putting glass in a girl’s shoes by the way, great call) “i was scared i wasn’t gonna be good enough!!!!” alrighty then. and yay introduce random girl to be the big bad villain because we need one of those. yay resolve all the problems at the end!

I loved the first one but Shiny Broken Pieces is on a whole other level. It's everything I wanted from this series and more.

Every character is fully fleshed out. In this duology the side characters are better developed than in most trilogies I've read.Can we talk about the character development? These girls have grown so much.

There's Giselle "Gigi" Stewart, the ballerina who wants revenge - and finds an ally in Cassie Lucas, but they might be after the wrong person, and their friendship might beI loved the first one but Shiny Broken Pieces is on a whole other level. It's everything I wanted from this series and more.

Every character is fully fleshed out. In this duology the side characters are better developed than in most trilogies I've read.Can we talk about the character development? These girls have grown so much.

There's Giselle "Gigi" Stewart, the ballerina who wants revenge - and finds an ally in Cassie Lucas, but they might be after the wrong person, and their friendship might be more toxic than Gigi thought.There's Elizabeth "Bette" Abney, the black swan with an edge, the one who makes the story worth reading, the ballet worth watching. She is a mean girl, sometimes she's awful, and she owns it.There's E-Jun "June" Kim, who has anorexia but there's so much more to her, and she wants to get better.And then there are side characters like Sei-Jin (she does so many bad things and I understand every single one of them, and she changes a lot), Eleanor and Riho (who is too pure for this world).

The romance is still the weakest aspect of this series, because Alec is as interesting as a cardboard cutout, but i liked Jayhe....more

What a fabulous ending. Truly, in the theme of the series - we got to see the ugliest side of everyone. The twist and turns - the plots and revenge. This last year in the dancer's lives were all about change. And this last year defined each of them - as it was the final person they were when they auditioned for the final step - The Ballet Company. Only 2 girls and 2 boys go each year - and the year before there wasn't enough talent and no one went. It's a tough"Better, faster, stronger, payback"

What a fabulous ending. Truly, in the theme of the series - we got to see the ugliest side of everyone. The twist and turns - the plots and revenge. This last year in the dancer's lives were all about change. And this last year defined each of them - as it was the final person they were when they auditioned for the final step - The Ballet Company. Only 2 girls and 2 boys go each year - and the year before there wasn't enough talent and no one went. It's a tough audition and the final move into the ballet world. Or, if you don't make it, possibly your final move out.

It was interesting, adding Cassie into the mix and finding out all the things they had done to each other before Gigi got there. And the final moves, the final antics are both horrifying and frightening. But it's interesting to read how they all go through it - some of them for the better, many for the worst. I like how everyone ended up and the hope that it left behind.This was a great conclusion....more

This book was amazing. The character development is spot on and it does a great job of making you feel like you're in NYC, dancing with the others. I love how character roles are switched, making you feel different things for people you hated in the first book. Gigi was my favorite character in both books, but I love how much of a slow-burn June's character development was. I didn't care for her in the first book, I thought she was mean and aloof, but that completely changed for me in the secondThis book was amazing. The character development is spot on and it does a great job of making you feel like you're in NYC, dancing with the others. I love how character roles are switched, making you feel different things for people you hated in the first book. Gigi was my favorite character in both books, but I love how much of a slow-burn June's character development was. I didn't care for her in the first book, I thought she was mean and aloof, but that completely changed for me in the second book. Where the first was all about revenge, Shiny, Broken Pieces is all about forgiveness. Absolutely loved!...more

What I did enjoy was the depictions of actual dancing, of the ballet classes themselves, of the class getting ready to perform Swan Lake. I’ve read another ballet book where the dancing is described in terms of the physical actions taken, not a lyrical description, and I think the authors pulled off the feelings of what it is like to dance from the point of view of three characters wThis review was originally posted on The Moonlight Library

It wasn't great.

It wasn't terrible.

It was kind of 'meh.'

What I did enjoy was the depictions of actual dancing, of the ballet classes themselves, of the class getting ready to perform Swan Lake. I’ve read another ballet book where the dancing is described in terms of the physical actions taken, not a lyrical description, and I think the authors pulled off the feelings of what it is like to dance from the point of view of three characters whose lives revolve around ballet.

One of the reasons… ok the ONLY reason… I decided to read this book was to find out WHO had pushed Gigi into an oncoming car in the previous book. Tiny Pretty Things left this as a cliffhanger, which I despise, and I was pretty much OK with that for a long time. In Shiny Broken Pieces we find out pretty early on who it was definitely NOT… but then find out who it definitely WAS about halfway through. It seemed kinda early-ish for me, but then the rest of the novel focused on this massive Swan Lake performance.

One of Gigi’s defining characteristics is that she’s black, and in ballet, that’s really rare. However the authors couldn’t decide if everyone always stared at her or if she managed to blend in with the other ballerinas. I guess she could do both, but I found it wavered from one extreme to the other depending on what looked better to the plot without any consistency. Gigi was stared at A LOT, almost as if the students of a New York school had never seen a black girl before… I thought it was strange, but I do not study ballet nor do I live in New York City, so perhaps I’m not the best authority on that. In contrast, people did not stare at June, or Bette, the other two protagonists, however Bette is the epitome of the beautiful blonde white girl and June was half Korean and one of her primary characteristics was that she blended into the background.

I mean, whatever! I thought it was inconsistent but maybe that’s how people actually act. I don’t even know anymore. What is literary criticism anyway? *existential crisis*

Although I really liked the presentation of June's anorexia and bulimia, I was a little confused how one teacher could indicate that June is too fat and everyone else was concerned she was too thin. Consistency was also an issue in Tiny Pretty Things, so maybe it's just these authors.

Another thing I found grating was Gigi's narrator. She had this really annoying delivery in a kind of monotone where she sounded really depressed, but then when she did dialogue she inflected much better. Her general narration annoyed the funk out of me. I don't think Gigi was actually depressed, just bent on revenge, so was not pleasant to listen to. In contrast the other two narrators of Bette and June didn't sound like they were uninspired and just reading from a script they hated in a job they hated, they actually delivered some entertainment.

I also want to say that I didn’t particularly like any of the characters in this novel, but I don’t think it’s a requirement in enjoying a book to like characters who are awful to each other as the main plot point (see Wuthering Heights, one of my favourite books BECAUSE I hate the characters).

I will mention that I’m not comfortable with how it ended. There was one of many characters seeking revenge for acts committed against them and they ended up losing everything while other characters who instigated the bullying kind of got rewarded? Like, I get that ballet is a cut-throat biz but I felt really sorry for the character, who was only twisted up because someone had bullied them and they was seeking revenge. The other thing that irked me was that the people who did the really bad things in Tiny Pretty Things (pushing Gigi in front of the car, glass in the shoes, killing the butterflies) were all LGBTQ characters. Like, the victims got screwed over and the biggest bullies got everything they wanted. So yeah, not cool. I like Mean Girl books because they get their comeuppance, and I didn’t feel satisfied with how everything ended....more

I have had this book on my TBR since I found out they were making a sequel to Tiny Pretty Things. I absolutely adored the first book and the cutthroat world we were introduced to that is Ballet. I’m still wondering whether ballet is really that competitive and whether dancers are actually that bad - because it is kind of scary! I loved this book and I loved the difference we could see in all the characters! We also got to know Cassie - who probably deserved what she got from the people around heI have had this book on my TBR since I found out they were making a sequel to Tiny Pretty Things. I absolutely adored the first book and the cutthroat world we were introduced to that is Ballet. I’m still wondering whether ballet is really that competitive and whether dancers are actually that bad - because it is kind of scary! I loved this book and I loved the difference we could see in all the characters! We also got to know Cassie - who probably deserved what she got from the people around her before her return and before her accident.

The book starts off at a new school year for all the dancers and follows the characters as they each deal with the consequences of what happened the year before. The characters are all suffering in one form or another based on the actions from the previous year and it is interesting to watch how they all deal differently with the things that happened.

I think Gigi changed the most - and is also the person who went through the most within this series. In the first book, her redeeming factor, and the thing that made me like her, was the fact that she stayed above all of the bullying. She kept her chin up and didn’t let it get to her like it did in this book. I think what happened to her in the past book at the end, snapped something within her because she becomes obsessed with hurting those who hurt her in some way, rather than putting everything into her dancing and becoming better than she was before, despite her accident. She actually scared me in this book - I also don't think it helped that she befriended Cassie - who seemed to have gone completely off the rails!

What I also loved about this book was the various problems it dealt with. Anorexia, bulimia, inappropriate relationships, crime, the lengths some people will go to to be better than others (cutthroat competition) etc. The book dealt with a lot of issues that plague society, but it did it in a way that flows and it all fit together within the story itself.

I liked to follow June’s story the most, I think. She struggled the most with her ballet and she suffered from eating disorders, which didn’t help anything! I found myself really rooting for her to get better and make herself a better ballerina through that - so that by the end of the book, she hadn’t lost everything! I loved the way she powered through everything and really tried to get better! She was definitely an inspiration!

I think Bette also changed a lot within this book. I think the accident with Gigi and her being blamed, made her see that what she did to the other dancers within the first book was completely wrong. I also think that she truly feels sorry for everything that she did to the others around her and I think she wants to make it right, but doesn’t quite know how? I also think that she definitely understands what she did when Cassie starts bullying her to the extent that she does. She makes a complete 180 turn around in this book and I am definitely glad that she did!!

I really enjoyed this book and this series as a whole and I am kinda sad that we won’t get to revisit this cutthroat world in a new book that follows Gigi and Bette in their apprenticeships!! The ending definitely had me feeling like I was leaving school all over again and I was really depressed! I gave this book 4/5 stars....more

(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to HarperCollins and Edelweiss.)

“This is my year. This is my turn. I’ll be the lead soloist. I’ll be chosen for the company. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

This was a YA contemporary story about a group of dancers studying at the American Ballet Company.

I felt quite sorry for Bette in this story, it wasn’t her fault what happened to Gigi, and it was unfair the way she was made to take the blame, especially(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to HarperCollins and Edelweiss.)

“This is my year. This is my turn. I’ll be the lead soloist. I’ll be chosen for the company. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

This was a YA contemporary story about a group of dancers studying at the American Ballet Company.

I felt quite sorry for Bette in this story, it wasn’t her fault what happened to Gigi, and it was unfair the way she was made to take the blame, especially when it could have cost her her career.

“If you’re innocent, prove it.”

Gigi had thankfully recovered from her accident, and was back at school. I could understand why she was nervous of the girls who had miss-treated her though.

“I will be picked to dance Odette or Odile in Swan Lake.”

June was still struggling with her eating disorder, and struggling to see how her weight and physique affected her ability to perform.

“To be a ballerina one must be strong. All muscle. And you cannot do that without eating.”

The storyline in this was about the girls being back at school, and competing for a place at the American Ballet Company the following year, as professional ballerinas. We got some revenge going on from Gigi, and the culprits behind the pranks in book 1 were revealed. I did find the pace in this quite slow though, and it wasn’t quite as good as the first book for me.

“I guess she was getting back at me for the glass in her slipper.”

The ending to this was good, although I have to wonder if we’ll get another book about these same girls.

After the intensity of Tiny Pretty Things, this honestly seemed relatively tame. There are still horrifying pranks and interpersonal drama (lots of it), but the focus becomes a lot more introspective as the girls prepare for life after the Conservatory — the future is uncertain and all actions have consequences.

So many moments made me want to yell at these characters to stop hurting each other and/or themselves, but there are also quite a few heartwarming mo1. Tiny Pretty Things | ★★★★

3.5 stars.

After the intensity of Tiny Pretty Things, this honestly seemed relatively tame. There are still horrifying pranks and interpersonal drama (lots of it), but the focus becomes a lot more introspective as the girls prepare for life after the Conservatory — the future is uncertain and all actions have consequences.

So many moments made me want to yell at these characters to stop hurting each other and/or themselves, but there are also quite a few heartwarming moments, particularly between some of the girls and their parent(s). None of it feels like filler, though on the flip side it's kind of emotionally exhausting keeping up with all the shenanigans; pretty much every story arc gets closure.

It's a solid read, fairly consistent with the previous book. And now I really want to go watch a bunch of ballet videos.

Shiny Broken Pieces kicks off at the start of the last school year and everyone is trying very hard to make sure they are at the top. Some things I forgot about while reading this because it's been a while since I've read Tiny Pretty Things, but I really enjoyed the drama and the pranks that have been pulled. I think this was much more to the point and straightforward than the first book. It appeared more polished and intriguing. The ending did feel a bit rushed and I feel like one character shoShiny Broken Pieces kicks off at the start of the last school year and everyone is trying very hard to make sure they are at the top. Some things I forgot about while reading this because it's been a while since I've read Tiny Pretty Things, but I really enjoyed the drama and the pranks that have been pulled. I think this was much more to the point and straightforward than the first book. It appeared more polished and intriguing. The ending did feel a bit rushed and I feel like one character should've had more of a significant role than just being more of a sidelines character because Shiny Broken Pieces left me with a few unanswered questions....more

3.75 stars. It really is satisfying to read a book that ends a series for all of the characters involved so definitively. I definitely felt that way about SHINY BROKEN PIECES, as it allows readers to reconnect with Bette, June and Gigi and to see how each of their stories plays out. It's definitely still messed up, and it's still over the top, but it was also just so compelling and a lot of fun to read. Glad I picked this one up and that I saw their saga through till the end ;)

While I found this book enjoyable, I did not enjoy this one as much as the first. I find the characterization strong in both but found this one meandered too much and lacked focus. This one had a better pace than the first but still felt repetitive.

I do recommend this for anyone who loves ballet like me and enjoys reading YA set in that world.

If you thought what these girls did to each other in Tiny Pretty Things were bad, wait until you read Shiny Broken Pieces! The stakes are higher than ever at the American Ballet Company. Bette, Gigi, and June are in their final year at the prestigious dance school. Well, Gigi and June are. Bette has been suspended, but she's desperate to prove her innocence, be allowed back, and then audition for the Spring performance of Swan Lake. But in her spot is the newly returned Cassie, and she just mighIf you thought what these girls did to each other in Tiny Pretty Things were bad, wait until you read Shiny Broken Pieces! The stakes are higher than ever at the American Ballet Company. Bette, Gigi, and June are in their final year at the prestigious dance school. Well, Gigi and June are. Bette has been suspended, but she's desperate to prove her innocence, be allowed back, and then audition for the Spring performance of Swan Lake. But in her spot is the newly returned Cassie, and she just might want this more than Bette.

I'll start with the one thing that I didn't like about Shiny Broken Pieces, which was Bette's journey to find the evidence that will clear her name. It was all so convenient and honestly, completely unbelievable. She easily stumbles upon the one thing that will 100% show that she didn't push Gigi and does show who actually did it. If it was that easy, why didn't it come up during the investigation? It seemed like a forced way to get Bette out of the picture for awhile and get her on the track for redemption. It just didn't make sense.

Other than that, Shiny Broken Pieces was amazing! It's not just Bette and June being the bad girls. Gigi refuses to be a victim anymore and joins in on the bullying. Cassie also swears to get revenge on the girls who tormented her before she was forced to leave the previous year. No one is safe and no one is innocent. We even get a lot more of Eleanor and Sei-Jin, which I really enjoyed. The "pranks" do go way too far this time. So far, in fact, that the school is in jeopardy.

Shiny Broken Pieces also goes way deeper into June's eating disorder. It's not just her putting quarters into her underwear to make weight. Her life is seriously in danger and the school and her mother simply will not tolerate it anymore. We actually get to see June at her lowest point along with the consequences. Then we see her set on the path to recovery. She's not magically "fixed" by the end. I do believe that she wants to be strong and healthy so that she can keep on dancing.

Shiny Broken Pieces was another great read. Ballet is a highly competitive career and it's astonishing to me how far these young women and men (yes, even the guys are behaving badly!) will go to be on top. I also think that ending was perfect. It's not quite the good overcomes evil type of ending that I was expecting, but it's also not the evil gets what they want ending that I wanted. It's somewhere in the middle which is quite fitting.

This is the sequel to Tiny Pretty Things, and if you haven’t read that book, you are being warned now that this review is riddled with spoilers!

June and Gigi are in their last year at American Ballet Conservatory, while Bette has been suspended. After what happened to Gigi last school year, from the bullying to her being pushed in front of the taxi, the conservatory had no choice but to suspend Bette. Bette is still proclaiming her innocence in the accident, but the bullying cost her family a pThis is the sequel to Tiny Pretty Things, and if you haven’t read that book, you are being warned now that this review is riddled with spoilers!

June and Gigi are in their last year at American Ballet Conservatory, while Bette has been suspended. After what happened to Gigi last school year, from the bullying to her being pushed in front of the taxi, the conservatory had no choice but to suspend Bette. Bette is still proclaiming her innocence in the accident, but the bullying cost her family a pretty penny in a settlement with Gigi’s family. Gigi feels changed. She knows she isn’t the same girl she was last year. She will not let anyone take advantage or bully her this year. And with Cassie as an ally no one does. June is fighting demons of her own, still struggling with her weight and what will come next in her career. She needs to be strong in more ways than one if she wants to continue to be a ballerina.

The competition is fierce for this sequel! The story begins with the new school year. We know exactly where each girl is at mentally and throughout the book we watch each girl change and grow as characters, constantly pushing and questioning themselves. I enjoyed the story arcs for all of the characters. Every single one of them makes mistakes and has to deal with the consequences and there is so much growth. Character development is very strong for this series as is world building. Readers feel completely submersed in the world of ballet, where everyone knows each other and everyone is competition but a few stand out and they are the ones that are targeted.

This series is dramatic and addicting. I loved the movie “Center Stage” and I feel like this book embodies that but also provides a little extra. It’s more intense, more cutthroat and more intimate. I really enjoyed both of these books. I breezed through them in no time. It’s a diverse group of characters with our main characters, being all different races. There was one moment in particular here that shined a lot on some of the prejudice in the ballet world, regarding the casting of the white swan in Swan Lake. Clayton and Charaipotra did a really great job with both of these books. I give this one 4 out of 5 stars....more

The sequel to Tiny Pretty Things was fun and entertaining. It was interesting to see Cassie added to the cast of characters this time around. You have a lot of the same dirty pranks like last time, but this time you see both Cassie and Gigi wanting to get revenge on those that hurt them. I didn't like this as much as the first book, but still really enjoyed this one. It really shows the cutthroat competitive nature of this ballet school.

So far this is supposed to be the final book in the seriesThe sequel to Tiny Pretty Things was fun and entertaining. It was interesting to see Cassie added to the cast of characters this time around. You have a lot of the same dirty pranks like last time, but this time you see both Cassie and Gigi wanting to get revenge on those that hurt them. I didn't like this as much as the first book, but still really enjoyed this one. It really shows the cutthroat competitive nature of this ballet school.

So far this is supposed to be the final book in the series and I am happy with the way this ended, but it also left things a little open so that another book could be possible. I don't think we need another book, but would definitely read another if there was one. ...more

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The author of the upcoming Symptoms of a Heartbreak, Sona Charaipotra is not a doctor — much to her pediatrician parents’ chagrin. They were really hoping she’d grow up to take over their practice one day. Instead, she became a writer, working first as a celebrity reporter at People (where she interviewed Neil Patrick Harris and asked him about his Doogie days) and (the dearly departed) TeenPeopleThe author of the upcoming Symptoms of a Heartbreak, Sona Charaipotra is not a doctor — much to her pediatrician parents’ chagrin. They were really hoping she’d grow up to take over their practice one day. Instead, she became a writer, working first as a celebrity reporter at People (where she interviewed Neil Patrick Harris and asked him about his Doogie days) and (the dearly departed) TeenPeople magazines, and contributing to publications from the New York Times to TeenVogue. These days, she spends a lot of time poking plot holes in her favorite teen TV shows, like Riverdale — for work of course. She’s the co-founder of CAKE Literary, a boutique book packaging company with a decidedly diverse bent, and the co-author of the YA dance dramas Tiny Pretty Things series and the forthcoming Rumor Game. She’s also a proud We Need Diverse Books team member. Find her on the web at SonaCharaipotra.com, or on Twitter @sona_c. ...more